Do you need special shampoo after straightening hair?

byPerry Romanowski

Al asks…I’ve always read that once you have gone for some type of permanent straightening (like Brazilian or keratin one…) you should not use either salt (Sodium Chloride) or sulfates. If I’m right those process change covalent bridges in the hair so, how do sulfates or salt affect then? I’m also curious if per example sulfates (or salt?) would affect when you’ve done some type of non-permanente straightening, since their lasting power seems to be related to washing frequency. The commercial explanations are that both “wear off” the keratin used to “stuff” the hair – but since is not the keratin the one giving the effect…(or is it?) Also I would like to know how semi-permanent treatments involving some type of chemistry -not only heat- come off, if the products used affect most likely free cysteine and create some type of weak bonds, those “wear off”?

The Beauty Brains respond:
Great questions, Al!

How do chemical hair straighteners work?

As we’ve previously discussed these straighteners work by reacting with the protein bonds in hair that give it structure. As you suggested they do NOT work by stuffing the hair full of keratin.

If you think of the structure of hair as a ladder these protein bonds are like the rungs that cross link the two sides of the ladder. When all the rungs are in place the ladder holds its shape tightly and when the rungs are broken the ladder becomes wobbly and changes shape. Hair is kind of the same way. If you break and reform these protein bonds you can make hair curly or straight.

How do these treatments wear off?

The new bonds formed by these treatments are not as strong or as numerous as hair’s natural bonds so it’s normal that the hair will revert to its normal shape over time. (And of course any new hair growth will be curly.)

How much reversion you see depends on which straightening technology you use:

Relaxing is the most powerful and the most damaging but it’s the longest lasting.

Formaldehyde straightening is also very effective and long lasting but exposure to high levels of formaldehyde is dangerous.

Cysteine based products (like Garnier’s straightening kit) are safer to use and milder on your hair but the bonds they form are not as strong or long lasting.

Do you need a special shampoo?

The idea that you need to use a special shampoo after a hair straightening process is more marketing hype than anything else. There’s no evidence that suggests the type of surfactant impacts how the disulfide bonds oxidize. It’s more likely that the company is trying to sell you a more expensive sulfate free shampoo. Ditto for salt – not only does it not affect the bonds but it’s likely to be present in the formula even if it doesn’t appear on the ingredient list. That’s because salt (we’re talking about sodium chloride here) is a common by-product in the manufacture of many surfactants.

However it IS true that you should wait a day or two before shampooing your hair after a thio or cysteine based straightening treatment because it takes a that long for the oxygen in the air to oxidize the protein bonds.

I have relaxing my hair since I was a teeneger, we dont need a special shampoo, but it is better to use a moisturizer shampoo and conditioner,
because relaxing makes the hair dryer, thiner and fragile, if you dont take good care of it.

Great post! 🙂 I know I should wait 2-3 days before washing my hair after relaxing it, but would how about using dry shampoo? I just straightened mine, and was wondering if I could prolong the time before the initial wash by using dry shampoo.

I have done my permanent hair straighting but NW my hair’s look dull coz I m nt using same product shampoo used during rebonding NW they look dry and fizzy and sometimes I used dryer so any solution for my hairs to make them shiner and what care should be taken after rebonding

As we stated in the article: The idea that you need to use a special shampoo after a hair straightening process is more marketing hype than anything else. There’s no evidence that suggests the type of surfactant impacts how the disulfide bonds oxidize. It’s more likely that the company is trying to sell you a more expensive sulfate free shampoo. Ditto for salt – not only does it not affect the bonds but it’s likely to be present in the formula even if it doesn’t appear on the ingredient list. That’s because salt (we’re talking about sodium chloride here) is a common by-product in the manufacture of many surfactants.

However it IS true that you should wait a day or two before shampooing your hair after a thio or cysteine based straightening treatment because it takes a that long for the oxygen in the air to oxidize the protein bonds.

My hair is so frrizy and currly.. I want my hair straight and smooth but not with rebonding or straighten treatments i like naturally so what should i do for that? i m little confused..
Plz suggest me fast

I got my hair permanently straightened 2 months back with matrixopti care smoothing..BT I had dandruff problem..so after straightening I’m experiencing too much hairfall..I consulted my stylist,they suggested dandruff treatment..I took 3 sittings..BT my hairfall has bcm more severe than before .if I ask them, they just change my shampoo r treatment..I have so much money..yet no results..please suggest some solution for my problem.. My thick hair has become too thin now..I’m very depressed….and I’m afraid to try home remedies as I just got hair straightening 2 months back..I dnt want to take risk..so I’m listening whatever they r suggesting..

Listen , plz trust me ,use homemade remedies it won’t affect ur straightened hair ,if you use the remidies only on scalp , apply Lemmon , onion , gossbery juies on your sclap , with the help of a cotton ball, you can use anyone of them , use camphor and eggs too , try to keeps the juice on scalp and not all over hairs , i am having thin hairs now, due to my negligence , but my hair fall has stopped now, try urs

Hello Mr. Randy,
I got an extenso treatment on my hair 2 weeks back, and the stylist suggested me to use L’oreal Liss Unlimited Shampoo, Masque and Serum but I can’t afford to buy it as it is too expensive.
Can I use Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo and Masque or Tresemme Keratin Smooth Shampoo along with Dove Masque? I want my hair to remain straight and shiny for a long period of time.
Please reply soon.

sir .do you think applying hair oil and allowing it to condition for the whole night.then next day doing shampooing and conditioning with the stylish recommended products.will this procedure help me out to prevent from damage….since in INDIA it is believed that oil is the best conditioning
PLZ DO REPLY 🙂

I have hair straightening, but as there was colour on my front portion of hair, those hairs became frizzy dry and fluffy….now kindly suggest me which shampoo and conditioner I shall use or what to do to make it alright…kindly reply soon.

I have done straight therapy before 1 week but but i m.not happy after that bcoz my face is heavy its noy look good on me what should i do to look bounce in my hairs and my hairs are too damage bcoz of over using of blow dryier

ive done cysteine treatment and my stylist said to use sulphate free shampoo.. i am actually not happy with the treatment and i want it to wearoff sooner. can u suggest me a way to get the normal hair shape faster

Hi, I got Olaplex treatment done yesterday for my dry and frizzy hair. I have been doing straightening for quite some years now. Can I apply oil after olaplex treatment. What other natural hair packs could help control frizz. Can I apply henna, curd and egg pack. Will it undo my treatments? Please advice.

Hello Sir,
I have done permanent hair straightening 3 days back. My stylist has suggested me to go again at saloon for the FIRST HAIR WASH and obviously she would be charging a good amount for that wash.
My question is do I really need to go to the saloon for the 1st wash or I can wash my hair at home?
Can I use Matrix opticare smooth shampoo & Conditioner?
Looking for Ur earliest response………

Hi I have permentaly straitened my hairs 15 days before n my is not looking actually good as before can I put ordinary shampoo or professional one how to get back the normal hair after straighting any home remides please suggest me

Before 1 month i done my smoothning..by loreal…. Now a days my hair become oily after second day of wash…
How to reduce oilness from my hair?
I used a loreal shampoo n conditioner..
Pls help as soon as possible

Hi
I got loreal extenso done one month ago my stylist gave me chi shampoo n chi infra treatment n serum. But after applying these my hair looks like as I have applied oil. So I stopped using conditioner n serum. But still using this shampoo. My hair still look very flat. Can you suggest me shampoo that can give volume to my hair!

Hello Randy,
would love your advice on this: I have done the extenso hair straightening treatment by loreal at a salon.
Thereafter using loreal extenso shampoo and conditioner as recommended by the hair stylist,
However i would love to know if oiling my hair (massaging the scalp with natural oils such as coconut oil,etc.) will impact the effect of straightening?

Thank you for responding to my query! I really appreciate that. The first wash after the straightening will be done after 3 days at the salon only. so after that wash whenever I wash my hair I’ll continue using my TRESemme Hairfall Defence shampoo and conditioner.

Apply aloe vera and egg-white mask combo on your scalp. You can sometimes add vitamin-E capsule content (see any youtube video regarding the combo). It works wonders (personally applied it continuously after two months of rebonding). Hair fall will be much lesser.

Caution – using too much Vit-E capsule would enhance the growth of your natural hair (early growth phase would tamper with the straightened look!)

Hi I have done permanent Schwarzkopf Hair straightening one week before.
The Hair stylist recommended to used same brand of shampoo which is too costly. Can I use another brand of shampoo or conditioner to wash my hair? suggest any brand.

I have got hair smoothening done 6 months ago but I get split ends very frequently I use matrix optic range but lot of hairfall please suggest me some natural remedies I m very depressed and vexed please help.

I recently got done straight therapy-Schwarzkopf. Its only been 3 days and I don’t like the poker straight hair. Is there any way to reverse this. I want my hair to be the way it used to be! Is there any way that could happen.

I have done my permanent straightening 1 month back. And i am using the below WELLA products for haircare now. I have some visible white hair near the roots, and previously I used to apply Henna before permanent straightening. Is it okay to apply HENNA now for this chemically treated hair?

Hi
I took loreal extenso last friday nd aftr 3rd day wash my hair r no longer glossy nd hv got frizzy too. I am using kerastase sulfate free shampoo nd loreal liss serum..kindly suggest how can i get the straight nd sleek look as i have already invested much in getting treatment and buying these products…
Waiting for your kind response

I have done Schwarzkopf smoothening 1 week ago. And I am using loreal xtenso shampoo, masque and serum. Do I need to apply masque and serum after every wash? Does it will effect my smoothening? As I m not very fond of masque and serum every time. And also my scalp is very oily, after a day or two after the wash, scalp become oily. Please suggest…

Hi,
I have smoothened my hair, I request you to suggest a shampoo which will keep my hair healthy and avoid hairfall.They used Schwarzkopf products. After smoothening I have went for Keratin treatment as well. Kindly help me on this. It’s Urgent.

have done permanent hair straightening 2 days back. My stylist has suggested me to go again at saloon for the FIRST HAIR WASH
do I really need to go to the saloon for the 1st wash or I can wash my hair at home?

Hi,
My hair tends to get greasy too fast so I need to shower often. Can I use a Batisse dry shampoo during the days that I need to wait after permanently straightening my hair? I have looked at previous comment responses however none seem to address this. I am just wondering if the chemicals would react negatively to the residue of the permanent straightening.
Thank you in advance.

Hi i Did Smoothing last week Brand (LOreal ) Brand.
after i payed the saloon person insisted me that i should only use the loreal Shampoo xtenso. which they have? My question should i use that or can i use a shampoo which is mild one. instead harsh chemical shampoo. Please advise.

Hi..I got my hair straightened two weeks back and am facing a dandruff problem..so can i go back to using head n shoulders shampoo and then apply the loreal masque and serum they gave me??Please respond!